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Isaiah son of Amoz was a prophet during one of the most turbulent periods in Judah’s history. Early in his career, which lasted approximately 40 years (740–700 B.C.E.), the kingdom of Judah became a vassal of Assyria, a rapidly expanding power in the Levant. Around 735 B.C.E., the nations of Aram and Israel threatened to invade Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah, if King Ahaz did not join their anti-Assyrian coalition. Later, Assyria invaded Judah to suppress a rebellion by King Hezekiah in 701 B.C.E. As a prophet, Isaiah delivered messages from Yahweh about these events to political leaders and social elites in Jerusalem.

Isa 1-39 and 2Kgs 18-20 include stories about Isaiah and speeches attributed to him. Biblical scholars generally agree that some of these texts originated with the historical prophet, whereas others were edited or even composed by later writers. References to Isaiah in 2 Chronicles and in a noncanonical work called The Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah are almost certainly legendary.

Why does Isaiah speak of both doom and deliverance?

According to the books of Isaiah and 2 Kings, the prophet Isaiah was a well-known figure in Jerusalem, consulted by the kings of Judah. He may have been affiliated with the temple, where he received an early commissioning vision (Isa 6).

Readers have long noticed opposing tendencies within the prophecies attributed to Isaiah. In some passages, he denounces Judah’s social and religious practices and threatens Jerusalem with destruction (for example, Isa 5:1-7, Isa 29:1-4). In other passages, however, he predicts that the nation will be delivered from military threats (for example, Isa 14:25, Isa 29:5-8). These conflicting messages have produced a lively debate about the historical prophet. Did Isaiah primarily proclaim judgment or hope?

Until recently, most scholars viewed him as a prophet of doom and argued that texts depicting the deliverance of Jerusalem were written sometime in the next century, perhaps to celebrate the city’s survival of the Assyrian invasion in 701 B.C.E., before Babylon sacked the city in 587 B.C.E. A different view holds the reverse: that Isaiah mostly prophesied deliverance for his nation, like other prophets from the ancient Near East, whereas threatening texts were written in hindsight to reflect the later destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C.E. Still other scholars have suggested that the prophecies of judgment and salvation are both original, written by the historical prophet. Isaiah’s message may have varied, depending on which political crisis he was addressing, or the unresolved tension between these themes may have been an important part of his message.

What is Isaiah’s legacy?

Whatever one concludes about the historical prophet Isaiah, he inspired a dynamic tradition that grew over several centuries into the biblical book that bears his name. The religious and cultural influence of this book can be felt even today.

Isaiah’s prophecies are among the earliest responses to Judah’s encounter with imperial power, which would continue over several centuries. The claim that Assyria was Yahweh’s instrument for punishing Judah (Isa 10:5-15), which almost certainly goes back to Isaiah himself, shaped the portrayal of Babylon and Persia as agents of divine judgment and salvation in later biblical texts (Isa 45:1-4, Jer 25:9, Hab 1:5-11). Similarly, the book of Isaiah contains some of the first statements that Yahweh governs the entire world, not just Judah, according to an inscrutable plan (Isa 14:26-27, Isa 30:1). This belief greatly influenced later Jewish and Christian understandings of divine sovereignty. Some scholars even think that Isaiah’s view of Yahweh helped lead to the emergence of monotheism, the belief in the existence of only one god.

The book of Isaiah has been a foundational text in the history of both Judaism and Christianity. There were at least 21 copies of Isaiah among the Dead Sea Scrolls, along with six copies of commentaries on Isaiah. It is among the texts from the Hebrew Bible most frequently quoted or alluded to in the New Testament, especially in association with the birth, life, and death of Jesus (Matt 1:23, Matt 4:14, John 12:39-41). This association has continued in Christian devotional and artistic works like Handel’s Messiah.

In Judaism, more synagogue readings come from Isaiah than any other biblical book outside of the Torah, although the majority of them are from Isaiah 40-66, which was written after the time of the historical prophet. The figure of Isaiah is less prominent in Islam. He is never mentioned in the Qur’an, but he does appear in later collections of stories about prophets. Texts from Isaiah have also inspired activists from many traditions to work toward the establishment of social justice and world peace (for example, Isa 1:16-17, Isa 2:2-4, Isa 11:6-9).

Contributors

J. Blake Couey is assistant professor of religion at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. He is the author of Reading the Poetry of First Isaiah (Oxford University Press, forthcoming) and is currently working on a commentary on Isaiah 1–39.

Isaiah was a prophet in ancient Judah between 740 and 700 B.C.E. who prophesied about the expansion of the Assyrian Empire and its threat to Judah.

Did you know…?

Isaiah was an important prophet in ancient Judah from about 740 to 700 B.C.E. He appears in the biblical books of Isaiah and 2 Kings.

Many of Isaiah’s prophecies concern the expansion of the Assyrian Empire and its threat to Judah.

Isaiah had two children whose names reinforced his prophecies: Shear-jashub (“A Remnant will return,” Isa 7:3) and Maher-shalal-hash-baz (“Spoil speeds, prey hastens,” Isa 8:3). Another child named Immanuel (“God is with us,” Isa 7:14) may also have been Isaiah’s.

The mother of one of Isaiah’s children was a prophet herself (Isa 8:3).

As depicted in the Hebrew Bible, Isaiah was consulted on political matters by the kings Ahaz and Hezekiah of Judah.

Scholars continue to debate whether Isaiah was primarily a prophet of judgment or of hope.

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A region in northern Mesopotamia whose kings ruled most of the ancient Near East in the 8th and 7th centuries B.C.E.

The countries bordering the eastern Mediterranean sea, from the Sinai in Egypt to Aleppo in Syria.

Of or related to textual materials that are not part of the accepted biblical canon.

A subordinate, often a king who is subject to a more powerful king or emperor.

Isa 1-39

1The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.The Wickedness ... View more

2Kgs 18-20

Hezekiah's Reign over Judah1In the third year of King Hoshea son of Elah of Israel, Hezekiah son of King Ahaz of Judah began to reign.2He was twenty-five years ... View more

A broad, diverse group of nations ruled by the government of a single nation.

A region notable for its early ancient civilizations, geographically encompassing the modern Middle East, Egypt, and modern Turkey.

Isa 6

A Vision of God in the Temple1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. ... View more

Isa 5:1-7

The Song of the Unfruitful Vineyard1Let me sing for my belovedmy love-song concerning his vineyard:My beloved had a vineyardon a very fertile hill.2He dug i ... View more

Isa 29:1-4

The Siege of Jerusalem1Ah, Ariel, Ariel,the city where David encamped!Add year to year;let the festivals run their round.2Yet I will distress Ariel,and the ... View more

Isa 14:25

25I will break the Assyrian in my land,and on my mountains trample him under foot;his yoke shall be removed from them,and his burden from their shoulders.

Isa 29:5-8

5But the multitude of your foes shall be like small dust,and the multitude of tyrants like flying chaff.And in an instant, suddenly,6you will be visited by th ... View more

A collection of Jewish texts (biblical, apocryphal, and sectarian) from around the time of Christ that were preserved near the Dead Sea and rediscovered in the 20th century.

Characteristic of a deity (a god or goddess).

A West Semitic language, in which most of the Hebrew Bible is written except for parts of Daniel and Ezra. Hebrew is regarded as the spoken language of ancient Israel but is largely replaced by Aramaic in the Persian period.

The religion and culture of Jews. It emerged as the descendant of ancient Israelite Religion, and is characterized by monotheism and an adherence to the laws present in the Written Torah (the Bible) and the Oral Torah (Talmudic/Rabbinic tradition).

A religious system characterized by belief in the existence of a single deity.

A collection of first-century Jewish and early Christian writings that, along with the Old Testament, makes up the Christian Bible.

Isa 10:5-15

Arrogant Assyria Also Judged5Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger—the club in their hands is my fury!6Against a godless nation I send him,and against the people ... View more

Isa 45:1-4

Cyrus, God's Instrument1Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,whose right hand I have graspedto subdue nations before himand strip kings of their rob ... View more

Jer 25:9

9I am going to send for all the tribes of the north, says the Lord, even for King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land ... View more

Hab 1:5-11

5Look at the nations, and see!Be astonished! Be astounded!For a work is being done in your daysthat you would not believe if you were told.6For I am rousing ... View more

Isa 14:26-27

26This is the plan that is plannedconcerning the whole earth;and this is the hand that is stretched outover all the nations.27For the Lord of hosts has plann ... View more

Isa 30:1

The Futility of Reliance on Egypt1Oh, rebellious children, says the Lord,who carry out a plan, but not mine;who make an alliance, but against my will,adding ... View more

Matt 1:23

23“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall name him Emmanuel,”which means, “God is with us.”

Matt 4:14

14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

John 12:39-41

39And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said,40“He has blinded their eyesand hardened their heart,so that they might not look with their eyes,an ... View more

Isa 1:16-17

16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;remove the evil of your doingsfrom before my eyes;cease to do evil,17learn to do good;seek justice,rescue the oppr ... View more

Isa 2:2-4

2In days to comethe mountain of the Lord's houseshall be established as the highest of the mountains,and shall be raised above the hills;all the nations sha ... View more

Isa 11:6-9

6The wolf shall live with the lamb,the leopard shall lie down with the kid,the calf and the lion and the fatling together,and a little child shall lead them. ... View more

The set of Biblical books shared by Jews and Christians. A more neutral alternative to "Old Testament."

Isa 7:3

3Then the Lord said to Isaiah, Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Fuller's Fi ... View more

Isa 8:3

3And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz;

Isa 7:14

14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Isa 8:3

3And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz;

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